2023-06-03 Tending the Garden - Pastor Sven Frantzen

Tending the Garden - Pastor Sven Frantzen 2023-06-03 Theme Text: Genesis 1:28 NKJV Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” It is spring time and we are all looking to a great season of growing plants in our garden. Whether it is fruits, berries, or just beautiful plants, we are excited about tending our gardens. God has called us from the very beginning to tend the garden. He said this in Genesis 1:28: “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it:” But there is another garden that God wants us to tend; the garden of the Kingdom of God. God asks us to carry fruit worthy of repentance. This sermon highlights how you can help grow the fruits in the Kingdom of God.

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Transcript

Intro

Gardening - My garden in Norway - rich soil, no sunlight

Called for Growth

Matthew 13:23 NKJV

But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

John 15:8 NKJV

By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

Some are proud to be Adventists - we are the last people before Jesus comes. But Jesus warned the Jews who thought they were “the ones”.

Matthew 3:10 NKJV

And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

Growing a Church = Growing discipleship

See slides for discipleship track

A Requested Bible Study

B Attends Church on Sabbath

C Attends several Church functions

D Gave us contact information

F Everyone else

Our mission:

Matthew 28:18–20 NKJV

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

to share the love of God that brings hope, healing and peace through Jesus Christ.

RESTORE

Restore a loving and consecrated relationship with Jesus. Empower God's Remnant People with the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Share the Gospel of Christ and His Second Advent. Teach the Three Angels' Message with Power. Organize members to serve as Christ served. Reveal God's True Character to all. Evangelize Lacey, the South Sound and the World

John 10:10 NKJV

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

1 John 5:13 NKJV

These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

People NEED to grab a hold of this knowledge!!

How? By keeping the process going:

We need to keep feeding the flow of people. If we only work with A and B, without moving people from F -> D etc, we run out of “plants” that may bear fruit.

Invite, invite, invite.

“Now, it’s important to understand that 82% of all unchurched people would attend your church if they were invited to do so. The sad part is that only 2% of the church members have invited someone to attend this last year.” (Rich Birch, “Church Growth Flywheel”)

Matthew 10:8 NKJV

Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

“instead of increasing success rate (which is hard), increase activity. It takes more energy to make 6 out of 10 projects succeed than to just do 25 projects (which would yield 7-8 successful projects)” Bill Hybels

Psalm 37:5 NKJV

Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.

Proverbs 16:3 NKJV

Commit your works to the Lord, And your thoughts will be established.

Matthew 28:20 NKJV

teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Appeal

Will you commit to RESTORE God’s garden here in Lacey?

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